Louisa Catherine Adams to Abigail Adams, February 11, 1804

City of Washington Feb y. 11 th. 1804

My dear Madam

I received your two kind letters which gave me much pleasure as
they informed me of your returning health 1 I am sorry to tell you that M rs. Cranch still continues very ill although much better I
called on her last week but was not admitted to see her as she still kept her bed We
live so far from M rs. Cranch I did not hear of her illness
untill ten days after she lost her child 2 the Children have had the hooping cough very dangerously but are now getting well I
intend calling in a few days when I hope to find her much recover’d my two little ones
have I thank God escaped this dreadful disorder which has been uncommonly fatal this
winter owing to the severity of the Season they are both pretty well and John grows so
stout I shall soon be obliged to wean him he has but two teeth—

The City has been extremely gay this Winter but , Start deletion, is now , End, owing to M r. Caldwells marriage we are become , Start deletion, so , End, quite
dissipated scarcely an evening without producing either large Card parties or Balls
which are now quite the rage 3 I was at
the great Ball but was not much amused 4 there were four hundred and sixty persons present on the occasion the Room was
decorated with wreaths of evergreen and at the upper end was a full length picture of
the president with several paintings or daubings suitable to the subject of the fete , Start deletion, and , End, the house was superbly illuminated the president was sick and did not grace the Ball with his presence

We were last evening at a Ball given by M rs. Thornton in honor of this Wedding Madame Bonaparte who makes a great noise
here was there almost naked the Marchioness and a very large company of Ladies. every
body appeared in high spirits when the Marchioness thought proper to assume great airs
upon this question of ettiquet , Start deletion, and after , End, having
been led to the second place in the dance she told her partner she did not chuse to
dance at the foot of the set and retired to her seat M rs. Maddisson went up to her Sister M rs. Jackson who was standing at the head of the dance and mentioned the
dissagreeable situation the Lady of the house was placed in but M rs. J. said she would not give up her place to any-body M rs. Thornton was very much distressed and after the first dance was over the
Marchioness was prevaild upon to stand up in a Cotillion which she condescended to do
she kept the floor nearly an hour then said the music was so bad she could not dance
any more and left the room 5 this ridiculous business destroyed the harmony of
the party so completely in the beginning of the evening that we none of us knew what
to do or what to say untill after the M. retired when every body evinced a degree of
joy and satisfac not very complementary to her Ladyship. this question is not yet
decided and I cannot conceive how it will end something must be done or society will
become perfectly insupportable. I cannot help smiling at all this but I think before
the Lady assumes so much she should learn manners.

I called on M rs. Cushing and sat with
her about half an hour I have not seen her since. M rs. Morton talks of returning soon her imagination is more brilliant than ever and the
sight of M rs. Bonaparté calls forth so many sublimely
poetic flights that I expect to see some very elegant and choice production from her
pen. she tells me M rs B. is reckoned very like her. you
have no doubt heard she is said to be the most beautiful Wom[an in] the United
States.

Mama and my Sisters are well M r. Hellen is [sick with] a cold and pain in his breast the Court is now sitting and M r. Adams is so much engaged he scarcely allows himself time
to eat drink or sleep 6 he stays at home
and sends me out to make his apology Adieu dear Madam remember me to M r. Adams Thomas and Louisa and believe me your affectionate
daughter

L. C. A.

The music was lost if M r. Shaw to
whom I request you will remember me should find an opportunity I should be glad if he
would send me two pounds of Arra-Root and tell M rs. Whitcomb I want very much to hear from her, 7 excuse this scrawl my pen is so bad I cannot
write with it.